The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-01-08
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
SOUGHT THE NORTH POLE.

Bette Wanted to Find Out Where They
Cut the Moon Into Stars-Her Adven-
ture.
Take me, Hugh, take me-"
"No, no, Dandy Bette; we don't
want any little ones where we're go
ing"
Dandy Bette was fair, fufy-haired
damsel of four-a sweet, blue-eyed
mite of hot-house flower, come down
from London to tarry awhile among
her cousins in the country, to gain
some of their strength and vigor.
Hugh was her big, stalwart cousin of
ten, almost a giant compared with the
little lady, whose company he was re-
iecting in such ungentlemanly fashion.
'Tm not Dandy Bettie--you know
I'm not; and I'm not even Bette;
mamma calls me Bethie, and so does
auntie,' lispcd the small tongue, stumb-
ling over the name, till it sounded very
like that to which she objected.
"Well, th1ts what l said Bettje,"
cried provoking Hugh, swapping his
fingers at her, standing at the nursery
door, as they all went rollicking away,
and down the stairs, Hugh, Rosie, Jack,
and VIII.
But Take me, take me, was what
the mite pleaded, straying to the land
inc, as the lad halted on the topmost
stair
''No, 70; Jack Snow would swallow
up a chit Of girl like you
'Tm not a chit; I'm ever so big"
said small Bette to this. "And where
are You going?N
Cup to the North Pole, perhaps"
All, Hugh, why not keep 10 the simple
truth?
"And where is that?'
"Oh! Il rare jolly place, where It's
said they cut up the old moons and
make stars of Them
"Then, take me, Hugh, take me-"
Nonsense! stay and talk to Tibbe. "
All! well, they were gone-kindly,
boyish, unthinking Hugh, Bettie's fay
Orite, and all; romping out into the
white snowy world; and this is what
they were bent on doing making a
monster SNOWFALL, which should aston
ish all the simple grown-up folk, who
somewhat sighted snowy weather, with
its attendant unpleasantness.
"Oh, wish could go to the North
Pole" sighed little lonely Bette, going
back to the silent nursery. Not even
nurse was there, for she was below
stairs somewhere Tibbie was there,
and told her wee mistress, as well as
she could, that she would like some
milk SO down toddled the kind
hearted little soul to the Kitchen, and
fetched her cupful, all by herself, as
she told Mistress Pussy and that North
Pole scheme came back again.
Cutting up old moons into stars
and, oh! | should like q pretty star, all
my own, to hold in my hand, and I'm
sure they'd give me one" Who they
were was very vague in the child's
mind, but soon her scraps Of thought
took shape and form-"and I'll go,
quoth she to pussy, sitting purring by
her side. I'm so all by myself, and il
they give me pretty, wee, twinkling
star you shall wear it, Tibbie, when
your good, hung round your neck; and
now I'll go"
Trip-trot-a sweet little sunbeam, she
stole down the stairs, and out in the
snowy world and the red afternoon sun.
light. And while she tripped and
unused out her thoughts, the monster
SNOWFALL grew apacc, for many hand,
make light work, and merrily and
quickly goes play-work, all the worlC
over.
81 say" quoth Jack to Hugh, as the
moments flew by like fleeing notes o.
pleasure, u do believe there's Dandy
Bette out there, toiling along like ;
little brick
"Nonsensem said Hugh, shading his
eyes with his hands, to peer in the
direction to which the other pointed
ono, it can't be she-they'd not let her
out alone; it must be some other little
chit of girl; no, it can't be she. -
ooh! do fa5 there's Hugh and al
Of them down there soliloquised Bet
tie espying the busy group from afar
..but no, it can't be they, for They're
net making stars-no, what are they
doing?" All! Bette, well if you haC
gone to see.
But no, the sweet, golden lights O
sunset lured her on, rejecting on be
fore, "as if they were making star
there" so she said, when that had hap
pened which could not be recalled.
"WeI, little maid, where are YOU
bound for?' asked a gruf voice at he.
side. % dark face spying down at her, {
tall mans figure casting a shadow b!
the side of her dainty one.
al amt bound" objected Bette,
little auivc of fear in her voice; In